Director of live events Simon Hughes said: "Our whole business model at COI was geared towards us saying yes but our trading status is changing."

Probe

COI’s chief executive Mark Lund has been working closely with the Cabinet’s Office permanent secretary for Government communications Matt Tee on the probe, which has informed recommendations made to Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude.

Maude's report is due to be published this month, according to a Cabinet Office representative, and the terms of reference for the project state the "radical review...will make proposals for the most effective and efficient way to plan, co-ordinate, procure and evaluate government’s direct messaging campaigns".

The Creative Choice consortium, led by the Live Group, is competing against Serco and The Engine Group for the deal, which includes conferences and exhibitions and was planned to begin in April.

Panel

There has been some industry concern over the appointment of The Engine Group’s president Robin Wight to the Cabinet Office’s communications and COI review panel, due to conflicting interests.

Wight is one of a ten-strong panel that also included Aviva’s chief marketing and communications officer Amanda Mackenzie.

However, a DfE spokesman said the decision on the framework was awaiting final approval by the Secretary of State and the Cabinet Office’s Efficiency and Reform Group, and the process "isn’t linked" to the review.